Russian Visa

This was posted on this branch 01FEB2008:

"Russia visa in Cambodia - update
I have previously said that it was possible to get a russia tourist visa easily in Phnom Penh. Well, it wasnt quite so easy, it is only possible if you first get a 3 month cambodia visa - obtainable for about $75. Only then can you get the russian visa - I was told this directly by the Consulate, due to new regulations!"

Think this settles it; it confirms what's said on www.sydneyrussianconsulate.com/visat.html. If you have proof of permission to stay in a foreign country (ie. a visa) for 91 days you can apply for a Russian visa in that country.

"Ukraine only seems to issue 15 day tourist visas, at least to non Ukrainians."

Let me settle this also:

Go to: http://www.embrus.org.ua/

It mentions that tourist visas are valid for a max. of 1 month.

conm - first rules in one consulate do NOT apply to another consulate. I suspect the consul in Phnom Penh is trying to be helpful. Certainly this has been the case there for years.

Second, while the consulate website might say that they issue 30 day tourist visas, I am pretty sure that I have had more than one report that non Ukrainians were only able to get 15 days for a tourist visa in Ukraine. Also posted on my site: "Several reports from 2007 indicate that the embassy in Kyiv will only issue Russian tourist visas for 2 weeks."

I suggest having a back up plan if it doesn't go as you intend and Please report back your experience.

Ruth

Everbite- So you're saying there's no link between what's written on the Sydney consulate website and what happened in Phom Penh? These two consulates just happened to invent what seems to be the same rules?

With regards to Ukraine...there are 5 consulates in Ukraine that issue visas; have you received reports that all five are issuing only 15 day visas? If no, l suggest that in Kyiv the Consul doesn't know what he is doing rather than being a policy in Ukraine.

Yes, exactly my point. There is NO link between the way that the consulate in PP interprets the rules and the way that the consulates in Australia interpret the rules. There are many inconsistencies in the way Russian consulates interpret the rules. Below are just a few examples.

If it were the case that the rules were consistent everywhere, why do some countries require original documents and some accept faxes or print outs of emails?

If it were the case that the rules were consistent everywhere, why is the processing time 1 day in some places, 2-4 days in most countries and 10 days elsewhere?

If it were the case that the rules were consistent everywhere, why can the processing time be expedited for a fee in some countries but not in others?

If it were the case that the rules were consistent everywhere, why do some countries accept all passport holders and other countries only locals?

If it were the case that the rules were consistent everywhere, why do some consulates not accept applications for entrance more than 90 days in advance of the date while others accept application for entrance up to 180 days in advance?

If it were the case that the rules were consistent everywhere, why do some EU countries accept applications from all EU passport holders and some from only their own citizens or those with residency permits?

If it were the case that the rules were consistent everywhere, why do some consulates issue 30 days visas, some only 21 days and several only 15 days to those who don't hold a local passport?

BTW The recent reports about 15 day visas all come from non Ukrainians applying in Kyiv or non Turks applying in Istanbul.

Please don't shoot the messenger. I don't make these rules. I just report them as they are posted here on the TT or sent to me privately. I simply suggest that you have a back up plan and request that you report back your experience so that I have more information to pass to others.

Ruth

Sorry, l don't agree. There clearly is a link with what happened to that person in PP, and what's written on the Sydney Consulate website. The link is the law given to them by the Foreign Ministry. These 2 consulates do interpret the law the same way. Probably most other Consulates do to. Remember that there are 100+ Consulates around the world that issue visas; if you can only point out a half dozen Consulates that don't implement the law or interpret the law differently then you can hardly say Consulates do whatever they want with regards to visa rules, which is what you suggest above.

You say:
"There are many inconsistencies in the way Russian consulates interpret the rules. Below are just a few examples.
If it were the case that the rules were consistent everywhere, why do some countries require original documents and some accept faxes or print outs of emails?
If it were the case that the rules were consistent everywhere, why is the processing time 1 day in some places, 2-4 days in most countries and 10 days elsewhere?
If it were the case that the rules were consistent everywhere, why can the processing time be expedited for a fee in some countries but not in others?"

You're wrong at seeing these things as 'rules' and 'inconsistencies', they are neither. I will explain in a post below when l have time.